SepteMber 2008

Wheaton CBD and Vicinity Sector Plan

PROPOSED Scope

Montgomery county plannin

The Maryland-National Capital Park and
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 SepteMber 2008

Wheaton CBD and Vicinity Sector Plan

Proposed Scope

Montgomery county plannin

The Maryland-National Capital Park and

w
 Introduction

Montgomery County, Maryland

This report is a scope of work for a comprehensive amendment to the 1990 Wh

District and Vicinity Sector Plan. It briefly describes the setting and states the
addressed in the amendment; describes the methodology, tasks and resources t
and addresses how the community will be involved in the process.

Context

Wheaton is located north of Silver Spring on the eastern leg of the Metro Red Lin
where it intersects with Veirs Mill Road and University Boulevard. It is one of the
Central Business District Districts (CBDs) in the County. Existing development in Wheaton reflects a tradit
with mostly low-rise development. Despite an older building stock, the area has
rate in the County, four percent. There are more than 400 businesses in Wheaton
community, many of them known for their ethnic character. Westfield Wheaton
square feet of commercial space, is the largest shopping center in the County.

Purpose

Putting the planning framework in place now will enable us to:

• bring the Wheaton Sector Plan up to date with the latest thinking and best p
planning
• position Wheaton to take advantage of future redevelopment opportunities
The Plan’s boundaries will be the same as
revitalization efforts by the County and other interested parties
those of the 1990 Plan.
• address the timing of development and its impacts on the community
• address the quality of life issues (community facilities, environment, design
must be addressed to create a livable, sustainable community.

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Development Activity Since 1990

The first ten years after the adoption of the 1990 Sector Plan saw very little new
building or renovation in Wheaton. Development activity picked up after 2000 with a
major renovation of the Wheaton Mall by its new owner, the Westfield Group, which
added a new anchor, a new floor of stores, and additional parking. Also, more than 18
new small businesses have opened in Wheaton including the two-story Triangle Park
retail building on Reedie Drive.

The most significant development activity was the creation of approximately 723
housing units between 2004 and 2008 where none existed in downtown Wheaton
before. Outside the CBD core but within the Sector Plan boundary, the Montgomery
Housing Partnership renovated some 133 multifamily units at Pembridge Square
Apartments in the northeast section of the Plan.

Currently, Westfield is preparing a long-term plan for their Wheaton Mall site to create
a more compact urban development pattern. Washington Properties is planning
a 211-unit apartment complex at the intersection of Veirs Mill Road and Georgia
Avenue. Avalon Bay is proposing a 316-unit rental housing project at the intersection
of Georgia and Blueridge Avenues, which will also include a Safeway grocery store.
This project will allow redevelopment of the current Safeway site at Reedie Drive. The Wheaton Metro Station
Bozutto Company intends to build a mixed-use project on the Metro station Sector Plan Boundary
property between Veirs Mill Road, Georgia Avenue, and Reedie Drive. Central Business District
Recently Built
Proposed and Potential
Goals And Objectives Under Contruction
1 1st Wheaton Baptist Church - Residential
The Wheaton Sector Plan amendment will have three goals: 2 The Montgomery - Residential
3 Metro Triangle - Mixed-Use
• To meet County policy of focusing density at Metro stations to encourage transit 4 Triangle Park - Retail
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use and make best use of that significant public investment. MetroPointe - Residential
6 Safeway Site - Mixed-Use
• To reinvigorate the Wheaton CBD and create a walkable community with a
7 Georgia Crossing - Retail
distinct identity. 8 Grandview - Residential
• To create a center of jobs and housing on the eastern leg of the Metro Red Line. 9 Avalon Bay - Mixed-Use
10 Leesborough - Residential
 Wheaton Sector Plan Objectives

Spur Revitalization
New development is needed to enhance the mix of uses and encourage public
to create a quality public realm that will turn the CBD into a more attractive plac

Integrate Wheaton Mall into the Community

Wheaton Mall is built in the old regional shopping center layout with a covered
edges, surrounded by parking lots and garages. Westfield plans to renovate, rec
benefits of creating an urban-style shopping center. The Sector Plan will develo
integrate the mall into the overall fabric of downtown Wheaton making it an int
rather than a separate, disconnected entity.

P r e s e r v e W h e a t o n ’s S m a l l B u s i n e s s e s a n d E t h n i c D i v e r s i t y
Many of the small businesses and ethnic restaurants that give Wheaton its ident
CBD’s lower land values and rents. Revitalization will increase land values and re
Proposed Avalon Bay marginal businesses. Retaining and encouraging small businesses and ethnic di
Mixed-Use Project
mixed-use environment will be the largest challenge in Wheaton’s revitalization
this plan.

Build a Quality Public Realm

The public realm is an important factor in
character. Wheaton’s deteriorating buildin
extensive surface parking, and lack of gre
served neither residents nor businesses. T
Wheaton are not pedestrian-friendly and
Low-rise buildings accommodate a variety of
small businesses
Wheaton lacks a central open space or town common that can be a focal point f
and special events. The Plan will identify and set priorities for providing facilities
the potential for a public open space and improved pedestrian connections wit
surrounding facilities. It will emphasize design excellence in all aspects of redev
quality public realm.

Create Wheaton as a Sustainable Community

The Wheaton CBD has some characteristics of a sustainable community—a cent
and an extensive network of bus routes—but lacks the dense mix of uses, pede

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environmental features that make a sustainable urban environment. Natural conditions are degraded
to the point of non-existence. The Plan will seek opportunities to increase pervious surfaces and the
tree canopy within the CBD, recommend urban environmental solutions, and encourage green building
choices.

M i t i g at e t h e N e g a t i v e I m p a c t s o f R e d e v e l o p m e n t o n t h e C o m m u n i t y
Wheaton has a Metro station, three major roads, and a street network that provides alternative
travel routes and can be the basis for a walkable community. But it is not walkable. Even though new
development will be transit-oriented, road congestion within the study boundaries and neighboring
communities will be a major concern. The Sector Plan may need to address the phasing of development
with regard to facilities such as roads, schools, recreation, and open spaces. The County’s Annual Growth
Policy will be used to coordinate the infrastructure needed to serve the future redevelopment in Wheaton.

Create New Housing Options

Although the residential communities surrounding the CBD provide significant single-family and garden
apartment housing for the area, there is a need to locate more and varied housing within the CBD.
Housing is a key element in revitalization because residents activate the downtown and support local
businesses. Housing near jobs and transit also provides opportunities for people to drive less and live
near work. The Plan will address the housing needs of the County and Wheaton’s role in addressing the
affordable and workforce needs of the area.

Provide Economically Feasible Options

Along with new housing, downtown Wheaton needs new office development to support its current base
of small businesses. An economic analysis of the Plan’s recommendations will ensure that the vision for
Wheaton is one that can be achieved within the funding and implementation tools currently available to
County agencies, developers, and property owners.

Apply New Planning Tools

The land use and planning environment has changed since the 1990 Sector Plan was approved. Today’s
issues of sustainability, design excellence, and housing needs require new zoning and regulatory tools.
The Plan will assess current regulatory controls and recommend new tools for implementing the Plan’s
recommendations as appropriate (e.g., overlay zones, form-based codes, and design guidelines).
 Wheaton Sector Plan

Sector Plan Boundary

Central Business District

Open Space

Important Pedestrian No

Gateway to the CBD

Major Highways

Integrate Wheaton Mall i

Increase conntectivity to
community facilities and
Protect surrounding resid
transitioning uses and co
Metro Station

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Issues

The proposed amendment will address the following issues:

• What level of growth is appropriate in Wheaton given that it has a Metro station but is divided by
heavily traveled regional roads?

• What kind of growth will result in a mix of uses that supports revitalization and maintains the
community’s character?

• How can Wheaton’s mall be connected to the CBD and the surrounding residential communities and
be an integral part of an attractive, walkable downtown?

• What kind of transition is appropriate between the commercial core and the surrounding single-
family neighborhoods?

• What are the best tools and mechanisms for transforming Wheaton into an economically robust and
environmentally sustainable downtown?

• Where are the opportunities and needs for public spaces? What should be the character of the public
realm and streets?

• How can the CBD as a whole be more pedestrian-friendly and interconnected?

• How can the ethnic diversity and small businesses that give Wheaton its character be maintained in
the face of potential revitalization?

Approach
Propos

Starting with the assessment of existing conditions and an estimate of

development by 2030 under the current Sector Plan and zoning, staff will
establish baseline conditions that will be used to analyze scenarios for the
new Plan. This baseline scenario will help us understand the opportunities and
constraints of the current infrastructure and what kind of infrastructure would
be needed to achieve the Plan’s goals and objectives.

Staff will prepare and evaluate up to three development scenarios with different
intensities, massing, and mix of uses for the CBD and the Westfield Wheaton
 Mall site. These scenarios will consider the size and location of buildings, existin
development patterns, building heights, massing and setbacks, and the circulat
hierarchy of streets, bikeways, sidewalks, and open spaces.

The scenarios will be used to test the benefits and impacts of growth and a dev
core based primarily on transit over the next 15 to 20 years. The emphasis will b
potential as a vibrant, walkable transit-oriented place. Analysis will focus on opp
constraints of existing conditions.

Outreach

The Plan will be developed with full participation of the community and other st
including three-dimensional modeling and illustrative concept plans to convey
an easily understandable way for all participants.

In lieu of a master plan advisory group, the project team will use the experience
existing advisory committees associated with the Mid-County Regional Services
Urban District Advisory committee (WUDAC) and the Wheaton Redevelopment
(WRAC). 

WUDAC and WRAC have formed a joint work group that includes representative
Citizens Coalition (WCC) and community members who are committed to mont
voting members. The work group’s recommendations will be presented to the f
and WRAC for deliberation and recommendations. All of their meetings are ope

In addition to these committees, staff will host community meetings, post inform
website, and contact the community via email, the Mid-County Service Center, t
Library, and community locations such as grocery stores and area businesses. St
individual property owners, businesspeople, developers, and umbrella organiza
with the Business Redevelopment Manager at the Mid-County Services Center t
business programs and to establish relationships with Wheaton’s diverse small b

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In addition to the joint work group, outreach will include working with the:

• Kensington/Wheaton Chamber of Commerce

• Leading Economic Development in the Community
• Westfield Wheaton Mall
• development community and business owners
• neighborhood associations, non-profit groups, and individuals
• government agencies
• community institutions

Throughout the planning process regional, State, and County officials will be asked to join internal
Wheaton team meetings and external community meetings to address issues that span agency
jurisdictions. Foreign language translation will be provided at large community meetings as needed.
Advertisements of meetings and summary plan documents will be provided in Spanish.

Community Meetings

• At a kick-off meeting on April 30, 2008, staff discussed why the plan is being done, development
since 1990, major issues, the existing planning framework, a plan’s role in the development process,
and the project schedule.

• On June 4, 2008 staff briefed County agencies about the master plan work program, including
an overview of Wheaton’s planning issues, schedule, and how staff will work with the agencies
throughout the planning process.

• Through summer 2008, staff continued to meet with WUDAC, WRAC, WCC, and the joint work group
to discuss ongoing work and planning concepts such as sustainability, market data, and land use
practices.

• Soon after the Planning Board approves the Scope of Work in September 2008, staff will commence a
visioning exercise with the community.

• In December 2008, staff will get community input for a preferred development scenario that will be
refined into preliminary recommendations.

• In February 2009, staff will seek community input on preliminary recommendations.

 Phasing

Project Schedule

Starting in September 2008, the proposed planning process will take 24 months
meeting the schedule is focused in Phases I and II described below and in the ch

After the County Council approval and adoption by the Commission, a Sectiona
needed to implement the zoning recommendations of the approved Plan. The S
three months to complete. The SMA is scheduled to be completed by October 3
Council election.

Phase I: Pre-Plan

Task 1: Scope Project

Prepare a need statement that briefly describes issues and establishes the plan
project manager.
Product: Budget program element that describes and maps the project

PHASE II: Develop Draft Plan (9 Months)

Task 2: Establish Work Program (1 month)

Discuss and finalize the needed analysis and resources, and establish a methodo
Prepare a detailed Scope of Work that describes the plan area, issues, and goals,
Redevelopment is beginning to transform Wheaton
assignments, a community outreach plan, and a timeline. Staff will establish a li
and identify redevelopment scenarios.
Product: Scope of Work

Task 3: Background Research (1 month)

Complete an existing conditions inventory, analysis, and mapping that includes
demographics, transportation, environment, community facilities, and parks an
Establish the current Sector Plan’s development potential in 2030 as a baseline f
scenarios. Initiate an economic analysis of office, retail, and housing to determin
that respond to County policies and emerging markets.
Product: Existing conditions maps and data, community contact and distributio
3-D model base, level of analysis needed for future tasks

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Task 4: Analysis (4 months)
A community visioning exercise, followed by analyses of various scenarios and impacts, will define an
appropriate level of growth, the infrastructure needs of redevelopment, and the planning and zoning
framework that will implement the plan. Staff will have two roundtable discussions with the Planning
Board to report on the Plan’s progress.
Product: Development scenarios analyzed for amount and type of development, economic viability,
transportation and environmental impacts; urban design studies; sustainable community concepts; park
and open space scheme; community facilities; and zoning implementation analysis

Task 5: Develop Draft Recommendations (1 month)

Preliminary recommendations will include illustrations of urban design concepts and draft zoning
amendments. Staff will present the preliminary recommendations to the Planning Board in a roundtable
discussion. After Board input, staff will finalize the recommendations.
Product: Draft recommendations, zoning, and design guidelines

Task 6: Prepare Draft PlAN (2 months)

Staff will prepare the draft Sector Plan for Planning Board approval to proceed with a public hearing.
Product: Public Hearing Draft

PHASE III: Planning Board Review (6 months)

Task 7: Conduct Planning Board Public Hearing (2 months)

Staff will schedule and advertise the public hearing, and distribute the Plan.
Product: Public hearing transcript and summary notes

Task 8: Planning Board Worksessions and Planning Board Draft

(4 months)
Staff will prepare the issues for the Planning Board worksessions. Following the worksessions, staff will
prepare the Planning Board draft document and seek Board approval to transmit the Plan to the County
Council and Executive.
Product: Planning Board Draft and design guidelines

PHASE IV: COUNTY EXECUTIVE REVIEW (60 Days)

Task 9: County Executive Review

The Executive will review the Plan’s recommendations, conduct a fiscal analysis, and transmit comments to
the County Council.
Product: Executive’s comments on the Planning Board Draft
 PHASE V: COUNTY COUNCIL REVIEW (6 months)

Task 10: County Council Hearing and PHED Committee Work

The County Council will tour the planning area and hold a public hearing on the
followed by the Council’s Planning, Housing, and Economic Development (PHED
Product: PHED Committee’s recommendations to the full Council on the Planni

Task 11: County Council Worksessions

The full Council worksessions address the PHED Committee’s recommendations
Council will approve the Plan through a Council Resolution, delineating all the c
Plan.
Product: Council Resolution of approval

PHASE VI: IMPLEMENTATION

Task 12: Planning Board and full Commission Adoption of

Approved Plan
Product: Approved and Adopted Sector Plan

Task 13: Sectional Map Amendment

Staff prepares the Sectional Map Amendment to implement the Plan’s zoning re
Product: Updated zoning maps

RESOURCES

The Planning Department’s approved FY09 budget allocates 4.6 work years to t
including the Research and Technology Center’s residential market analysis. The
approved FY09 budget also allocates time to this project.

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Wheaton Sector Plan Proposed Schedule

08 09
sep oct nov dec jan feb mar apr may jun jul aug sep oct no

PHASE I – PRE-PLAN

PHASE II – DEVELOP DRAFT PLAN

scope of work WK 1 Planning Board approves the Scope of Work outlining planning area issues, schedule, and budget

research
analysis
Transportation, environmental, land use, and public facility imp
development scenarios
community meetings WK 4 WK 3 WK 4

draft recommendations WK 4

draft plan WK 1

PHASE III – PLANNING BOARD REVIEW

advertising 30 DAYS

public hearing WK 3

worksessions
WK 1 WK 1

draft for approval WK

complete
work period
required sep oct nov dec jan feb mar apr may jun jul aug sep oct no
advertising 08 09
 for more information

Khalid Afzal, Georgia Avenue Team Leader

301-495-4650
[email protected]

Sandy Tallant, Lead Planner

301-495-1329
[email protected]

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The Maryland-National Capital Park and P

www.Mon

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